JUDGMENT

MANMOHAN, ACJ : (ORAL)

1. Letter dated 15th September, 2022 received from Mr. Ravinder Raj, Advocate highlighting the woes of senior widows and widowers was directed to be treated as a public interest litigation.

2. The GNCTD has filed a detailed counter affidavit dated 14th December, 2023. In the said affidavit, it has been averred that the issue of managing pension schemes for widows, widowers and senior citizens is overseen and managed by two departments of the Delhi Government i.e. the Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT W.P.(C)3168/2023 Page1of6 Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of Social Welfare. It is further averred that the Department of Women and Child oversees two financial assistance programs designed to benefit widows and women facing distressing circumstances whereas on the other hand, Department of Social Welfare manages financial assistance initiatives targeted at senior citizens residing in Delhi.

3. The relevant paragraphs of the counter affidavit are reproduced herein below:

“Financial Assistance Schemes implemented by the Department of WomenandChildDevelopment.

The Delhi Government's Department of Women and Child Development is actively executing multiple Financial Assistance Schemes provided by both the Government of India and the Delhi Government, aiming to support diverse segments of the population through its Financial Assistance Schemes (FAS) Branch. Specifically, the department is administering two financial aid Programs designed to benefit widows and womenfacingdistressingcircumstances.

1.DELHIPENSIONSCHEMETOWOMENINDISTRESS:

AimsandObjectives:-

 To provide social security by way of financial assistance to the Widows, Divorced, Separated, Abandoned, deserted or Destitute women in the age group of 18 years to life long who have no adequate means of subsistence and are poor, needy and vulnerable.

 The assistance of Rs. Two thousand five hundred (Rs. 2500/-)

is remitted on monthly basis to the bank account of the beneficiary through Aadhar based payment system (PFMS Portal/DBT).

EligibilityCriteriafortheScheme:-

 The applicant should be residing in Delhi for more than 5 yearsprecedingthedateofapplication.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT W.P.(C)3168/2023 Page2of6  She has a 'singly- operated' account in any bank for receiving the payment through Aadhar based payment system (PFMS Portal/DBT).

 The applicants shall have to furnish Aadhar number and Aadharseededaccountshallbeamustfortransferofbenefit.

 She is not receiving any pension from Central Govt./State Govt./MCD and/or NDMC or any other source for this purpose.

 The applicant's annual income does not exceed Rs.1,00,000/-

(Rs.One Lac.)

 This scheme named “Delhi Pension Scheme to Women in Distress” was notified through notification RNo.F41/22/DSW- WCD/FAS/SCHEMEAMMEND/09-10/17874-884 dated

26.11.2010.

 The scheme was initially launched by the name Delhi Pension Scheme to Widows vide notification date 10.08.2007. The applicants may apply for availing benefit under the scheme on e-District portal as the scheme was launched on 12/12/2018 e-

DistrictPortal.

TotalBudgetforF.Y2023-24=1100Cr.

Total Expenditure till 01-10-2023 (F.Y. 2023-24) = Rs.

5181992500 TotalNo.ofBeneficiarytill01-10-2023=361756 All eligible applicants may avail the benefit because there are no capping/ limitations on the number of beneficiaries under the scheme.

1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MARRIAGE OF DAUGHTERSORPOORWIDOWSANDORPHANGIRLS:

AimsandObjectives:-

 To provide financial assistance to the poor widows for performing the marriage of their daughters (up to two daughters)

 To provide financial assistance to the guardians including institutions or foster parents of an orphan girl for her marriage.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT W.P.(C)3168/2023 Page3of6  The quantum of Assistance is Rs. 30,000 (Rs Thirty Thousandonly)uptotwodaughters. EligibilityCriteriafortheScheme:-

 The applicantshouldberesidinginDelhiformore th